Thread by @R_Denhollander

I am deeply discouraged by this hire as things stand right now.

From Summit’s statement it would appear that the process for bringing Bryan on board is more extensive than many churches would have done. However. . .

(Thread)

brnow.org/news/bryan-lor…

In cases where serious allegations and questions have been present and there is concern about obtaining all relevant information, a closed process simply cannot provide what is needed to ensure the truth is reached.

Pastors, if you are considering bringing someone on staff under these circumstances, hire an independent, trusted and qualified third party to handle the vetting and investigation for you.

Here is some guidance for how to do this:

This firm or these individuals should NOT be retained as attorneys, as doing so creates attorney-client privilege over at least some of the information, and is a common tactic used by organizations to obscure information.

If you desire to pursue transparency and encourage the truth to come forward, retain the individuals or firm as consultants not w/ an attorney/client relationship. Your church attorney can review the information and reports with you, but must not be involved in the vetting.

Conduct the vetting openly and in a way that makes it safe for survivors or others with difficult information, to come forward. Survivors and witnesses with problematic evidence will be extremely unlikely to speak to your church attorney or. . .

to speak to any attorneys you’ve brought on in an attorney/client capacity – this is wise of them to refrain from doing so. If you desire to get to all the facts, provide a safe conduit for the information.

The vetting must be conducted openly and make it clear that the truth is desired. Witnesses and victims who may possess information will not be able to bring it to you if they are unaware of the vetting process.

This also requires open dialogue between victims/witnesses and investigators and the exchange of information where possible to facilitate obtaining complete and detailed information.

The process should produce a public written report which accurately reflects the methods of investigating, the facts uncovered, where facts are in dispute or questions remain unanswered, the strengths of the witnesses or evidence where possible, and recommendation.

Identities of victims or of those who fear retaliation can be protected - Personal Identifying Information (PII) is routinely redacted in these types of reports without compromising transparency. If you retain a good firm, they will know how to do this.

Regarding Bryan Lorrits, I genuinely grieve for what his family has endured in being both victims of Rick Trotter’s abuse, and finding the perpetrator in their own family. I do believe there are serious questions that remain unanswered, including but not limited to:

1 – 2 witnesses who independently stated that Bryan told them early on, that the phone had been destroyed. 1 alleges that Bryan specifically told him that attorneys had told the church to throw the phone into the Mississippi, and that he urged Bryan to preserve the evidence.

2 – One of these witnesses also alleges that she approached Bryan several weeks after the phone was discovered and was discouraged from reporting and told it was “too late” because the phone was gone.

I understand there is a third, non-family member survivor who Summit spoke with who reports that she WAS urged to report. But we must acknowledge all the witnesses who have spoken up and how their reports intersect or conflict.

3 – I remain deeply bothered that there is no pressure on Fellowship Memphis regarding what happened to the cell phone with all the videos, and no apparent desire to find out. This has been a question victims have been asking for at least four years, quite publicly.

At least one victim (with another witness who was also a victim) reports asking Bryan repeatedly in a private phone conversation to answer that question. This is in addition to the other survivor who reports also being told the phone was destroyed.

That there has never been a sense of urgency to discover what happened to the sole piece of physical evidence of felony crimes, is beyond disturbing, especially given that victims have been begging for this answer.

4 – Incongruities in the handling of whether FM reported. Bryan repeatedly stated over the years that the church immediately reported, and he did not respond when Memphis PD noted no evidence of a report or a call, both on Twitter and in the press.

Bryan notes now wishing he had asked for written documentation, but he does not say who told him the report had been made, and makes no effort to push for these answers, though this has been a question victims have been asking for years.

5 – Bryan stated that he had no idea that there were for sure minors involved. However, a witness who alleges that he was brought in to work with Rick Trotter, says he specifically told Bryan that Rick had confessed to children being on that phone.

This witness has stated that Rick was concerned about losing custody of his kids due to having videotaped minors in the bathroom. This witness says he also specifically told Bryan that Rick confessed to taking pictures of girls at Chick-Fil-A flashing him, and paying them for it.

We must acknowledge the presence of these statements. This is the same witness who reported that Bryan said that the church’s attorneys told them to destroy the phone.

6 – Bryan states he wished he had grabbed the pastors at Memphis Downtown “by the collar” and urged them not to hire Rick when Rick came back from rehab for a sex addiction. However, he does not mention that he had reportedly personally discipled/trained one of the pastors at MD.

This would have created a relationship that would have allowed Bryan to speak directly into the wisdom of hiring Rick, had he chosen to do so.

Bryan also does not mention that he was urged to prevent Rick's reentering ministry at MD in 2011, in writing, in an email sent to the entire pastoral team, charging them with responsibility for not allowing a sexual predator to be hired at another church. (I have seen the email)

There is certainly more that can be said. But I remain deeply concerned at the lack of proactivity by Bryan on behalf of these survivors, the lack of transparency regarding the behavior of Fellowship Memphis, and the apparent lack of concern at serious allegations against. . .

men Bryan lead as their lead pastor. While he was reportedly screened, he was nonetheless the lead pastor.

Grief at the damage done requires active and intentional steps to fight for truth and transparency. These q's have been at the forefront of discussion for at least 4 yrs.

It is a complex situation with many people involved. Reports directly conflict at times, or shed a very different perspective at other times. And with reportedly over 100 victims, serious questions remain about what additional information hasn’t been uncovered.

This is why a process that provides a public, properly qualified, safe conduit for victims and witnesses to speak up, is essential in these cases.

Fellowship Memphis should also pursue an independent review of their handling of the matter, with Bryan's full participation.

Additionally concerning is that Bryan stated that the reasons for not notifying the church was not because they were trying to hide something, but acknowledges it was fear of liability.

Pastors, this IS hiding. It is intentionally not disclosing due to fear of a lawsuit.

It is imperative that you understand that "coverup" is often not a smoke-filled room with men determining that child abuse is fine and should be allowed to continue.

"Coverup", many times, is choosing not to report or disclose, because something else has taken priority.

Pastors, if you have erred in the past related to abuse, PROACTIVELY seek to restore those you have harmed. Actively confess where you have failed. Work with the victims to lead the way in pushing for truth, transparency, accountability and justice.

If you have seen failure and been broken over the damage done, actively become part of the solution – grief and repentance will lead to a change in your actions and a deep desire to restore.

*end*